1,180ct. Russian Imperial Crown Comes to Israel

RAPAPORT... The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) will host a replica of the
Great Imperial Crown of the Russian Empire embedded with 11,352 polished
diamonds.

The imitation will be displayed at the sixth International
Diamond Week in Israel in Ramat Gan from February 13 to 14. The original crown was
used at the coronations of all Russian monarchs since Catherine the Great in
1762.

The replica, with a total weight of 1,180 carats, has an
estimated value of $20 million, the IDE said. It was created by Kristall
Smolensk, a Russian diamond manufacturer, in honor of the company’s 250th
anniversary. All diamonds in the crown have been sourced from rough mined by ALROSA.

Separately, ALROSA will display a range of diamonds at the
event, including an 80.59-carat polished stone named the ‘Star of Viluysk.’ The
Russian miner will also hold a tender of rough and polished diamonds ranging from
10 carats to 199 carats.